Hanoi, Viet Nam — November 7, 2025 — Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE) under Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, convened a regional workshop to promote cooperative solutions for transboundary environmental challenges in the Ayeyawady–Chao Phraya–Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) region.
Supported by the Government of Japan through the ACMECS Development Fund, the event brought together government officials, technical experts, and policy analysts from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Participants explored joint responses to water pollution, land degradation, and plastic waste—issues increasingly affecting shared ecosystems and livelihoods across borders.
Opening the dialogue, Mr. Nguyen Trung Thang, Deputy Director of ISPAE, emphasized the interconnected nature of the region’s river systems and the urgent need for coordinated policies and data-sharing mechanisms. Ms. Guohua Liu, Director of MI’s Sustainable Energy and Environment Department, highlighted ACMECS’s potential to complement existing regional frameworks while fostering greater ownership among member states.
The workshop featured insights from MI and ISPAE’s recent studies on water quality and plastic pollution. Findings revealed rising levels of microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and industrial waste, compounded by uneven monitoring capacities. Experts called for harmonized data systems, strengthened governance, and investment in waste management infrastructure.
Dr. Tu Anh Tuan from the Viet Nam Diplomatic Academy provided a strategic overview of ACMECS’s evolution, noting its expanded cooperation pillars and the establishment of the Environment Working Group. He underscored the importance of translating scientific assessments into actionable regional policies.
Additional contributions from the Viet Nam National Mekong Committee and ISPAE outlined basin-wide environmental shifts and proposed solutions, including enhanced groundwater monitoring, regulatory enforcement, and climate adaptation integration. Experts recommended that ACMECS serve as a bridge between technical findings and policy implementation.
In closing, MI and ISPAE reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ACMECS countries through continued research, policy dialogue, and capacity building. The workshop reinforced regional networks and collective resolve to safeguard shared ecosystems and promote sustainable development across the Mekong Basin.
